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In the early 70s, a genre with a controlled designation of origin was born and developed in the deep south of the states (in areas like Florida, Georgia, the two Carolinas, Alabama, Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, and Texas): Southern Rock.
Country, Folk, and Bluegrass are fused with English blues-rock, passing through the Hendrixian psychedelic blues turn (and of the same Greatful Dead), without disdaining sudden escapes in swing or jazz key. In other words, a musical current perhaps reactionary in themes, but absolutely revolutionary from a musical point of view, both in combining different styles and in anticipating some solutions and aspects that will be picked up later by other genres. The southern rock scenario is that of the classic Urban Cowboy with all the risks that derived: not a few artists have died, so much so that it has been called, in this regard, a «cursed musical genre». In this scenario, the masters and greatest standard-bearers of southern boogie move initially: the ZZ Top.
While many southern bands have extensive line-ups (up to 7 elements), sometimes even 2 drummers (e.g., Allman Brothers) and often three axes (e.g., Lynyrd Skynyrd), in this case, there is only one axe-man, but he is worth three: his name is Billy Gibbons. The musical ground where this immense guitar-hero and excellent singer is formed is the electric and psychedelic blues of the late 60s: the lesson is unequivocally that of Elmore James and Jimi Hendrix, very popular in Texas (the land that will give birth to the musical son of Jimi and the last great hero of blues-rock: the late Stevie Ray Vaughan).
After disbanding his debut band, the Moving Sidewalks, Gibbons formed in his hometown (Houston, 1949) ZZ Top adopting the classic blues trio formula (guitar-bass-drums) that will never change: the other two peers, countrymen (Texans), and original members are (on bass and shortly thereafter also vocals) the other bearded Dusty Hill (Dallas, 1949) and (on drums) the only one without a beard Frank Beard (Frankstone, 1949). Never entirely abandoning the Hendrixian teaching, Gibbons and his group followed the path of southern rock throughout the 70s decade and imposed a sound that made them unique in the international rock scene: a real trademark faithfully displayed in The Best Of (1977).
In it, the first 4 albums (First Album, Rio Grande Mud, Tres Hombres, and Fandango) are revisited from which, respectively, are extracted: the small gem titled “Backdoor Love Affair”, the overwhelming “Just Got Paid” and the first major hit, “Francine” (which made them known to a wider audience), the amazing “Waiting For The Bus”, “Jesus Just Left Chicago” and “Beer Drinkers And Hell Raisers” together with the legendary ride “La Grange”, and finally, the well-known and masterful rock'n'roll titled “Tush” (with a debut in great shape on Hill’s vocals) and the apocalyptic blues ballad titled “Blue Jeans Blues”. In short, just enough to warmly recommend it. In the following years, these eccentric Texans (with their deceptively naive and folksy image will demonstrate a surprising foresight that will justify their long career) will steer towards a more radio-friendly sound, even with rather heavy nuances, achieving great success in the mid-'80s, only to return (riding the synthesizer era and sensing the hard rock crisis in time) gradually to the basic and fiery boogie’n’blues of their beginnings, still appearing around these days, tougher than ever.
If we consider, a look, only seemingly rough and approximate, which made them an inimitable icon in the very fragmented and crowded rock circus, in addition to a name at least original, it's not so difficult to hypothesize how ZZ TOP are destined even in the distant future to close any rock encyclopedia ordered, as per rule, in alphabetical order.
Filippo Guzzardi
Tracklist Lyrics and Samples
01 Tush (02:19)
I been up, I been down.
Take my word, my way around.
I ain't askin' for much.
I said, Lord, take me downtown,
I'm just lookin' for some tush.
I been bad, I been good,
Dallas, Texas, Hollywood.
I ain't askin' for much.
I said, Lord, take me downtown,
I'm just lookin' for some tush.
Take me back way back home,
not by myself, not alone.
I ain't askin' for much.
I said, Lord, take me downtown,
I'm just lookin' for some tush.
- Frank Beard, Bill Gibbons & Dusty Hill
02 Waitin' for the Bus (02:53)
Have mercy, been waitin' for the bus all day.
Have mercy, been waitin' for the bus all day.
I got my brown paper bag and my take-home pay.
Have mercy, old bus be packed up tight.
Have mercy, old bus be packed up tight.
Well, I'm glad just to get on and home tonight.
Right on, that bus done got me back.
Right on, that bus done got me back.
Well, I'll be ridin' on the bus till I Cadillac.
03 Jesus Just Left Chicago (03:30)
Jesus just left Chicago and he's bound for New Orleans.
Well now, Jesus just left Chicago and he's bound for New Orleans.
Yeah, yeah.
Workin' from one end to the other and all points in between.
Took a jump through Mississippi, well, muddy water turned to wine.
Took a jump through Mississippi, muddy water turned to wine.
Yeah, yeah.
Then out to California through the forests and the pines.
Ah, take me with you, Jesus.
You might not see him in person but he'll see you just the same.
You might not see him in person but he'll see you just the same.
Yeah, yeah.
You don't have to worry 'cause takin' care of business is his name.
04 Francine (03:34)
Got a girl, her name's Francine,
finest thing you ever seen.
And I love her, she's all that I want.
And I need her, she's all that I need.
Well, Francine, oh Francis, why
do you love me and make me cry?
How I love her, she's all that I want.
How I need her, she's all that I need.
If I ever caught her with Stevie P
I'd throw her back in the Penitentiary, now.
And if I caught her with my mother's son
I'll call her daddy and get my gun.
My Fancine just turned thirteen,
she's my angelic teenage queen.
And I love her, she's all that I want.
And I need her, she's all that I need.
And I love her, she's all that I want.
And I need her, she's all that I need.
And I love her, she's all that I want.
And I need her, she's all that I need.
05 Just Got Paid (04:28)
I just got paid today,
got me a pocket full of change.
Said, I just got paid today,
got me a pocket full of change.
If you believe like workin' hard all day,
just step in my shoes and take my pay.
I was born my papa's son,
when I hit the ground I was on the run.
I had one glad hand and the other behind.
You can have yours, just give me mine.
When the hound dog barkin' in the black of the night,
stick my hand in my pocket, everything's all right.
I just got paid today,
got me a pocket full of change.
Said, black sheep, black, do you got some wool?
Yes, I do, man, my bag is full.
It's the root of evil and you know the rest
but it's way ahead of what's second best.
06 La Grange (03:53)
Rumour spreadin' around
In that Texas town
About that shack outside La Grange
And you know what I'm talkin' about.
Just let me know if you wanna go
To that home out on the range.
They gotta lotta nice girls.
Have mercy.
A haw, haw, haw, haw, a haw.
A haw, haw, haw.
Well, I hear it's fine if you got the time
And the ten to get yourself in.
A hmm, hmm.
And I hear it's tight most every night,
But now I might be mistaken.
hmm, hmm, hmm.
Ah have mercy.
- Billy Gibbons, Dusty Hill & Frank Beard
07 Blue Jean Blues (04:44)
I done ran into my baby
and fin'lly found my old blue jean.
I done ran into my baby
and fin'lly found my old blue jean.
Well, I could tell that they was mine
from the oil and the gasoline.
If I ever get back my blue jean,
Lord, how happy could one man be.
If I ever get back my blue jean,
Lord, how happy could one man be.
'Cause if I get back those blue jean
you know, my baby be bringin' 'em home to me.
10 Heard It on the X (02:23)
Do you remember
back in nineteen sixty-six?
Country Jesus, hillbilly blues,
that's where I learned my licks.
Oh, from coast to coast and line to line
in every county there,
I'm talkin' 'bout that outlaw X
is cuttin' through the air.
Anywhere, y'all,
everywhere, y'all,
I heard it, I heard it,
I heard it on the X.
We can all thank Doctor B
who stepped across the line.
With lots of watts he took control,
the first one of its kind.
So listen to your radio
most each and every night
'cause if you don't I'm sure you won't
get to feeling right.
Anywhere, y'all,
everywhere, y'all,
I heard it, I heard it,
I heard it on the X.
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